Running out of storage and having to decide which games to remove from your Steam Deck can be a tedious task, but thanks to this mod by StorageReview, you may never have to engage in storage triage again.
How? By attaching an external SSD that increases the handheld's storage capacity by more than 61TB, of course.
It's a case of extreme overkill, but this upgrade tackles a significant issue with the Steam Deck: its limited storage space. Even with the most expensive Steam Deck, the device tops out at 512GB. While you can replace the internal SSD with an aftermarket option, those only go up to 2TB. Considering the size of game files nowadays, with titles like Baldur's Gate 3 taking up a significant amount of space, 2TB might not even be sufficient.
This is where the modders at StorageReview step in. They've successfully managed to get a 61.44TB enterprise SSD from Solidigm to work with the Steam Deck. This enormous storage solution doesn't have the same dimensions as the standard M.2 SSD that Valve includes in its handheld, so StorageReview had to incorporate a power supply to ensure it could operate. Although it adds a considerable bulk that detracts from the Steam Deck's portability, we applaud the audacity of creating such a spacious monster.
For those who play resource-intensive games on the Steam Deck, chances are you're already near a power outlet to ensure the battery doesn't run out. In that scenario, the size of the external 61TB SSD doesn't feel like much of a drawback. We've already seen other gaming handhelds with ports that connect to an external GPU, so there's a precedent for such modifications.
In reality, most of us won't be following in StorageReview's footsteps and modifying our Steam Decks with an excessively large external SSD. However, the fact that StorageReview found the upgrade to be "surprisingly straightforward and uncomplicated" underscores how well the Steam Deck can adapt to customization.
